Skin & Allergy News articles from March 2004

Skin & Allergy News archives from March 2004

Patient advocacy groups flourishing: increased membership, budgets, clout.(News)
March 1, 2004... It used to be easy to find representatives of patient advocacy groups at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology--if you knew where to look. They were way in the back of the convention hall, far from the glitz of...

Case of the month.
March 1, 2004... A 43-year-old female presented with a 3- to 4-month history of fissuring plaques on her feet. The lesions started as scaling patches on her heels. These progressively thickened, then spread. The patient said she began applying a medicament from...

New study aims to slow the tempo of the 'atopic march'; 1,100 patients to be enrolled: can controlling atopic dermatitis at a very early age cut asthma, allergy rates later?(News)
March 1, 2004... WAIKOLOA, HAWAII -- An ambitious, 6-year study has been launched to determine whether tight control of atopic dermatitis in early childhood can cut short a relentless immunologic cascade that in many children leads ultimately to lifelong...

Pediatric dermatology certification exam nears: hailed as victory for subspecialty: apply by April 1 to take the Oct. 4 test.(News)
March 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Pediatric dermatologists, mark your calendars: You have until April 1, 2004, to apply for the new certification examination. The exam will help pediatric dermatology become a well-recognized subspecialty, Dr. Ilona Frieden...

FDA requiring changes to labels of OTC pediculicides: to improve success rate.(News)
March 1, 2004... ROCKVILLE, MD. -- Consumers who purchase over-the-counter pediculicides can expect to see changes to the outside label that are aimed at improving the success rate of these lice treatments. A "final rule" on over-the-counter (OTC)...

Unique identifiers to simplify claims processing; one number for all health plans.(News)
March 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- A new, simplified system for identifying providers should make claims processing easier for physicians. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in January issued a final rule that announced its adoption of National...

AMA offers plan to improve Medicaid coverage; tax credit option disputed.(News)
March 1, 2004... HONOLULU -- Patient access to Medicaid and physician reimbursement from the program have reached the critical point, delegates said at the interim meeting of the American Medical Association's House of Delegates. After heated debate, 94%...

CDC releases new SARS clinical guidelines; scenarios with and without transmission.(News)
March 1, 2004... Until severe acute respiratory syndrome pops up again, it should be considered as a diagnosis only for patients hospitalized for pneumonia who also raise epidemiologic suspicions, according to new clinical guidelines released by the Centers for...

Is compliance overrated?(Under My Skin)
March 1, 2004... By the way, Doc, I did not use the clindamycin gel you prescribed. "How come, Kevin? Did it irritate you?" "No. I never put it on." "Why?" "I wasn't sure you really wanted me to." Well, that was a new one. Things averaged...

Skip the spiritual history.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... The enthusiasm that Dr. Harold G. Koenig has for a documented spiritual history in the medical record is misguided at best ("Pro & Con: Should physicians conduct spiritual histories of their patients?" September 2003, p. 25). It is...

Honor, don't impose, religion.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... In "Pro & Con: Should physicians conduct spiritual histories of their patients?" Dr. Harold G. Koenig and Richard P. Sloan, Ph.D., missed an important reason why spiritual histories are important (September 2003, p. 25). Jehovah's...

The cost of frivolous lawsuits.(Guest Editorial)
March 1, 2004... Frivolous lawsuits have adversely affected the development and availability of reproductive medical technology in the United States, perhaps more than any other form of medical litigation. As a result, we have lost access to several safe...

Does patient cost sharing lead to better care?(Pro & Con)
March 1, 2004... YES consumer cost sharing is by no means a preferred tool by which to optimize the value of health spending. A better approach would be to rely primarily on clinicians and hospitals. However, the triad of professionalism, government...

Support malpractice reform.(Guest Editorial)
March 1, 2004... The current malpractice crisis has generated heated debate among physicians, and just a little finger-pointing at the plaintiffs' lawyers. Finger-pointing is not hard to understand when pediatricians face runaway premiums. In addition, many of...

Pain relievers.
March 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: "It would be easier if you described your symptoms Without the Greek chorus, Miss Beltran." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: "How are we supposed to make a living with all these free examination?!"...

Avoid new practice pitfalls.(Guest Editorial)
March 1, 2004... Before accepting that first job in medicine or buying into a practice, it's important for young physicians to do their research. Too often, a physician fresh out of residency will sign a contract without knowing the details about the...

Is obesity a disease?(Pro & Con)
March 1, 2004... YES Many people think of eating as a matter of choice, but a complex, biological system that controls food intake and makes it hard to lose weight. Many studies suggest that there are at least 40-50 difference substances--hormones,...

The questions that linger.(Guest Editorial)
March 1, 2004... Sometimes a patient forces us to ask the deeper questions we'd rather not think about in the course of everyday practice. For me, that patient was a homeless woman in the emergency room of the New England hospital where I was a third-year...

Think laser for saphenous vein reflux: 810-nm diode laser.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- Endovenous laser therapy is highly effective in treating reflux in the greater saphenous vein, and the procedure has several advantages over surgical ligation, Dr. Robert J. Min said at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society...

Multiple methods for better wound prep: seven ways to get the 'grunge' out.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2004... TORONTO -- A combination of debridement methods is often needed to "get the 'grunge' out" of a wound, Dr. Norman Flett said at the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Wound Care. "We have to look at what the wound is telling...

Dressings offer silver lining in wound care: easy on, easy off.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2004... TORONTO -- Ionized silver dressings improved moisture management, which improved healing in a variety of chronic wounds, Dr. R. Gary Sibbald said in a poster presented at the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Wound Care. ...

Allow punch biopsy sites to heal by second intention: equally effective.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Second-intention healing is as effective as primary closure at punch biopsy sites, Dr. Leslie J. Christenson reported in a poster at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American...

Mohs tips hone in on reconstruction, grafting: technique pearls.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- The nasal is myocutaneous island pedicle flap provides excellent function and cosmetic results when used to repair small but deep lateral defects of the superior nasal ala, Dr. Maryam Asgari reported in a poster presentation at...

Details of lymphatic drainage patterns can aid staging of head or neck melanomas: sentinel node mapping.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Sentinel lymph node mapping of melanoma of the head or neck identifies the unusual lymphatic drainage patterns of these areas, improves staging, and helps identify candidates for adjuvant therapy, Dr. Jeffrey S. Eaton said at a...

Botulinum toxin cuts axillary hyperhidrosis; one injection lasts 6 months.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Treatment with botulinum toxin led to a marked improvement in primary axillary hyperhidrosis in a controlled study with 322 patients. About 80% of patients had a greater than 75% drop in sweat production by 4 weeks after...

'Lunchtime' face-lift with antiptosis thread: good results, no incision: pending FDA approval.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD, FLA. -- Strategic placement of notched polypropylene sutures can lift ptotic areas of the face with no incision and little downtime, and the improved facial contours achieved with the minimally invasive technique persist for at least...

Try single-pass Er:YAG laser for photodamage: clinical study.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD, FLA. -- A single-pass short-pulse erbium:YAG laser safely and effectively treats mild to moderate photodamage of the face and neck, Dr. David K. Avram reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. ...

Laser-assisted liposuction improved recovery; prospective study.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD, FLA. -- Adding low-level laser therapy to standard tumescent liposuction can render the fat aspirate easier to remove, potentially minimizing adverse effects and speeding healing, a Singapore study has shown. In a series of 80...

ALA-IPL combats actinic keratoses and photodamage: retrospective study.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD, FLA. -- A single session of photodynamic therapy with aminolevulinic acid and intense pulsed light can significantly improve actinic keratoses and reverse signs of aging, Dr. David K. Avram reported. The photorejuvenation procedure...

Chemical peels are top resurfacing technique.(Data Watch)
March 1, 2004... DATA WATCH Chemical Peels Are Top Resurfacing Technique Chemical Peels 41% Microdermabrasion 27% Laser 15% Other 17% Note: Based on a random sample of 1,000 ASDS members surveyed...

Botox eased chronic pelvic pain in pilot study: improved quality of life.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- Promising results from a pilot study may lead to a role for botulinum toxin in helping to relieve certain kinds of chronic pelvic pain, Sherin Jarvis said at the annual meeting of the American Association of Gynecologic...

Procedure yields unexpected augmentation: tumescent liposuction.(Dermatologic Surgery)
March 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Tumescent liposuction is associated with unintended breast enlargement in some patients, Dr. Eric Finzi reported at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American College of Mohs...

Pediatric morphea demands rapid assessment, but Tx approach tricky; identify early signs.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... WAIKOLOA, HAWAII -- The best time to intervene with a morphea patient is early in the course of the disease before the inflammatory process "burns out" and treatments are unlikely to help, Dr. Patricia M. Witman said at the annual Hawaii...

Most pediatric AIDS cases seen in Blacks, Hispanics.(Data Watch)
March 1, 2004... DATA WATCH Most Pediatric AIDS Cases Seen in Blacks, Hispanics Black 62% Hispanic 22% White 15% Other 1% AIDS Cases in Children Under 13 Years Old in 1998: N = 382 Source: Centers for Disease...

Transplant patients need skin cancer consults: may eliminate some organ recipients.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- A dermatologic consultation ought to become a routine part of all organ transplant triage decisions, Dr. Stuart J. Salasche declared at the 12th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. This...

Parkinson's patients on Permax at risk for sleepiness with no warning: may happen 1 year into care.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... Patients who take the dopamine agonist pergolide either for Parkinson's disease or other conditions may be at risk for falling asleep with no perceived warning while driving or engaged in other activities of daily living, Dr. Patrizia A....

Be prepared for patients' sun protection questions: have sunscreen answers ready.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... DORADO, P.R. -- Plenty of patients give their dermatologist a hard time about having to wear sunscreen, so it's a good idea to have answers already prepared for the questions they're likely to ask, said Dr. Vincent A. DeLeo at the Caribbean...

Public's enthusiasm for cancer screening may be too high: PAP tests, mammography, colonoscopy.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... A large majority of Americans desire to be screened for the early detection of cancer and seem to view it not as a choice, but as an obligation, according to a survey of randomly selected U.S. residents. But such a commitment to screening...

Put contact dermatitis on your differential Dx list: don't ignore histology.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- When a typical dermatologic condition presents somewhat atypically, or when it fails to respond to standard therapy, consider a diagnosis of contact dermatitis, Dr. Douglas L. Powell said at a dermatology seminar sponsored by the...

Consider skin testing in Black and Puerto Rican asthma patients: study of 791 children.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... Physicians who take care of Puerto Rican and African American children with asthma should consider allergy skin testing more often as part of the management, especially in cases that are severe or hard to treat, results from a new...

Internalizing disorders often manifest externally; pediatric atopic manifestations.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... MIAMI -- Children and adolescents with internalizing disorders have increased rates of atopic disorders, compared with those without, according to preliminary study results presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and...

T. cruzi rising, universal blood screening urged; Chagas' disease pathogen.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- Screening of the U.S. blood supply for evidence of contamination with Trypanosoma cruzi will probably start within the next 2 years, as soon as the Food and Drug Administration licenses a blood screening test. "Universal...

How to spot chemo-induced cutaneous reactions: affects 12% of cancer patients.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- An appreciation of the characteristic cutaneous side effects of anticancer agents is invaluable in differentiating these lesions from numerous other skin disorders with which they may be confused, Dr. Onofre Sanmartin said...

Travelers' unwanted souvenirs: skin disorders and fever: worldwide registry.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... PHILADELPHIA -- Fever and skin disorders were two of the most common symptoms of illness in returned travelers in a large, worldwide registry of travel-related illness. The GeoSentinel surveillance network, a collaboration of 27 travel and...

Poor skin integrity, other clues may signal elderly neglect: ask questions.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Suspect neglect until proved otherwise if an elderly patient presents to the emergency room with tattered clothing, poor skin integrity, decubitus ulcers, diarrhea, urine burns, or urine excoriation, Terry Fulmer, Ph.D., advised in...

Asymmetric nevi, light hair color may be associated with melanoma risk: prospective cohort study.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... In a prospective study of 106,379 Norwegian and Swedish women, the number of large asymmetric nevi on the legs was the single greatest host risk factor for melanoma, Dr. Marit Bragelien Veierod and associates reported. Blond or red hair...

Skin sensitivity should be baseline consideration before choosing the dose or formulation of a topical retinoid: study of 262 patients.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... WAIKOLOA, HAWAII -- Baseline skin sensitivity is more predictive of how well patients will tolerate topical retinoid therapy than the brand, formulation, or concentration of the medication prescribed, Dr. James J. Leyden reported at the annual...

PCR detects microscopic melanoma; trial needed.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... MIAMI -- Melanoma patients whose sentinel lymph nodes are negative for cancer on histology but positive for microscopic disease may be the best candidates for early dissection, Dr. Merrick I. Ross said at a conference on melanoma sponsored by...

Check feet of sandal-happy folks for melanomas: part of total body exam.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Think of aging baby boomers as "the sandal generation," and remember to check their feet for primary melanomas, Dr. Hubert T. Greenway said at a melanoma update sponsored by the Scripps Clinic. A cluster of eight cases of...

Journal roundup focuses on ethnic skin concerns; reflects population trends.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- Important studies in ethnic skin research are increasingly filling the pages of dermatologic journals--which is only fitting, since half the U.S. population will be composed of people with skin of color by the year 2050, Dr. Susan C....

Incontinent elderly at risk for developing perineal dermatitis: nursing home population.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Older adults with fecal incontinence 3 months after nursing home admission are 5.1 times more likely than their healthy counterparts to develop perineal dermatitis, Donna Zimmaro Bliss, Ph.D., reported in a poster session at the...

New cutaneous form of Borreliosis identified: morphea-like plaques.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- Intermediate-stage cutaneous Lyme disease can manifest as a previously undescribed lesion having the clinical appearance of inflammatory morphea, Dr. Luis Requena said at the 12th Congress of the European Academy of...

Seasonal variation may explain low vitamin D: children and adolescents.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- Vitamin D deficiency may be more common than recognized in adolescents, according to results of two studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. In the first study, Dr....

Drug update: ulcerative colitis.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... Ulcerative colitis treatment is tailored to the severity and extent of disease. When inflammation is localized to the lower 20-40 cm of the colon, remission sometimes can occur with topical agents in enema or suppository formulations. Disease...

Bug bites prompt prurigo nodularis in HIV patients: severe itching.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Eczema and xerosis in patients with HIV can develop into prurigo nodularis, Dr. Toby Maurer said at a meeting on HIV management sponsored by the University of California, San Francisco. A recent study in Uganda appears to...

Anal HPV prevalence is high in gay men of all ages: HPV-16 most common.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- Anal human papillomavirus infection is present in a high proportion of HIV-negative gay men in all age groups, Dr. Peter V. Chin-Hong reported at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. This...

Elevated health risks associated with certain HPV types: university students studied.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... PLAYA HERRADURA, COSTA RICA -- Certain types of human papillomavirus are associated with a higher risk for cervical cancer and genital warts in young women, according to a study of 600 female university students. Detection of viral types...

O.J. and vitamin C level: consider the source: reconstituted is best.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... NASHVILLE, TENN. -- Physicians who recommend orange juice for its vitamin C content should know that the form of the orange juice determines the amount of the helpful vitamin that is actually ingested, Carol Johnston, Ph.D., said at the annual...

Polyneuropathy linked to Agent Orange exposure: Vietnam-era veterans.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Vietnam-era veterans who were exposed to the defoliant Agent Orange are more than twice as likely to develop peripheral polyneuropathy than are age and sex-matched controls, Dr. Mian Li reported at the annual meeting of the...

Lupus Dx calls for more aggressive heart care: corticosteroids, statins.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... Cardiovascular disease strikes systemic lupus erythematosus patients more frequently and earlier in life than patients and their physicians tend to assume, and it's time to do something about it. That's the take-home message from two...

Web browsers, wireless network cards.(Digital Assistance)
March 1, 2004... Featured App: Web Browsers We're now all quite used to navigating around the Web via Internet Explorer or Netscape on our desktop computers. As might be expected, Internet browsing capabilities have now become a part of the handheld...

Researchers zero in on lupus genetic profiling: low error rate with 50 genes.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Researchers have made important strides toward creating computer-driven genetic analyses of lupus patients, Dr. Tim Behrens said at a conference on lupus sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The idea...

MRI: assessment tool for psoriatic arthropathy: clinical correlation.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- Magnetic resonance imaging results correlate significantly with clinical findings in patients with psoriatic arthropathy, suggesting that the technology may have a role to play in guiding the course of care, Dr. Gwy Suk Seo said at...

Deep vein thrombosis campaign begins in March: only 29% receive prophylaxis.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... Most patients who are at risk for deep vein thrombosis are not receiving prophylaxis in time to prevent the condition and a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism, according to experts in the field. "We fail to alert and educate providers and...

Induce long-term remission to cut IBD morbidity: spare the steroids in children.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Inflammatory bowel diseases carry significant morbidity for children, and the best way to reduce that morbidity is to induce long-term, steroid-sparing remission, Dr. James Markowitz said at the annual meeting of the American...

Salmonella Enteritidis infections on the decline: undercooked eggs major culprit.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... Outbreaks and sporadic infections of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis declined overall in the United States from 1985 to 1999, most likely because of the implementation of many prevention and control measures, wrote Dr. Mary E. Patrick...

FDA warns about dangers of synthetic steroid: tetrahydrogestrinone.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning against the sale and use of tetrahydrogestrinone, saying that it may pose a significant risk to the health of consumers. Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) is a newly identified steroid that...

Cosmeceutical critique: evening primrose oil.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2004... Evening primrose, a hardy and fragrant biennial found throughout the world, has a long history of medicinal use. Traditionally, Native Americans consumed the seeds and used the leaves and bark of evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) as a...

Analysis suggests imiquimod cost effective for superficial BCC; versus simple excision.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Imiquirood is a cost-effective treatment for basal cell carcinoma, Dr. Stefan Weiss reported in a poster session at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American College of Mohs...

Caribbean meeting awash in dermatology pearls: calcineurin inhibitors, rosacea, biologics.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2004... DORADO, P.R. -- The warm waters of Puerto Rico inspired a set of practice pearls and other treasures at the Caribbean Dermatology Symposium. Dermatologists delivered a set of helpful tips on the following topics: Calcineurin...

Desloratadine appears safe for infants and young children: results of placebo-controlled trial.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2004... New Orleans -- The second-generation antihistamine desloratadine appears to be safe for use in infants and very young children, based on data presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. No...

Top 10 drugs mentioned during office visits in 2001.(Data Watch)
March 1, 2004... DATA WATCH Top 10 Drugs Mentioned During Office Visits in 2001 Millions of Mentions Lipitor 21.2 Celebrex 17.6 Vioxx 15.3 Claritin ...

Tazarotene vs. adapalene: weigh results, irritation: cream vs. cream.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2004... WAIKOLOA, HAWAII -- Tazarotene cream 0.1% was more effective than adapalene cream 0.1% in clearing acne lesions, but it was also more irritating in a head-to-head trial, Dr. William Abramovits reported at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar...

Industry group pledges cooperation in effort to sniff out fragrance allergens: will work with dermatologists.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2004... WAIKOLOA, HAWAII -- Dermatologists can now access detailed information about the potential allergenicity of fragrance ingredients and call on a voluntary industry group for help when they're stumped by an unusual scent, Dr. Matthias Vey...

Promising new HIV drugs expected within 2-5 years: tipranavir, amdoxovir.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- HIV drug development is advancing on several fronts, Ian R. McNicholl, Pharm. D., said at a meeting on HIV management sponsored by the University of California, San Francisco. "In contrast to the antibacterial pipeline,...

Acne commandments offer teens humor, advice: thou shalt ...(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2004... WAIKOLOA, HAWAII -- Teenagers aren't big fans of rules--think Holden Caulfield--but they do appreciate humor, which may be why they tend to follow Dr. Hilary E, Baldwin's tongue-in-cheek commandments for her acne patients. Dr. Baldwin, who...

Folfox.(New & Approved)
March 1, 2004... (oxaliplatin, Sanofi-Synthelabo; 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin) A chemotherapy regimen that combines Eloxatin (oxaliplatin) with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (5-FU/LV) for the first-line treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. Eloxatin, a...

Symbyax.(New & Approved)
March 1, 2004... (olanzapine and fluoxetine, Eli Lilly) A combination of the atypical antipsychotic Zyprexa (olanzapine) with the antidepressant Prozac (fluoxetine) for treating depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder. The first drug therapy...

Vaccines on the way for the most virulent viruses: RSV, CMV, HIV.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Viruses, beware-vaccines for cytomegalovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and HIV are headed your way. These vaccines are needed: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe respiratory tract disease...

New prescriptions often from same class as failed antibiotic: second Tx failure likely.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- More than 15% of 256,208 antibiotic prescriptions written for 137,562 managed care patients did not work, and although those patients needed new prescriptions, the new drug often was from the same class as the old one, said Katie J....

Take steps to manage diabetic foot infections: ischemic, neuropathic, or both?(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2004... TORONTO -- The right protocol can stop a pus-filled ulcer at the infection site. Dr. Gordon Dow, chief of infectious diseases at Moncton (N.B.) Hospital, Canada, sees plenty of pus in his work with diabetic foot infections. Diabetic foot...

Successful HAART restarts possible in HIV patients after adverse events: study of 40 HIV patients.(Dermatologic Therapy)
March 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- HIV-infected patients who interrupt highly active antiretroviral therapy can have serious adverse events, but they also can resume treatment successfully, according to a study of 40 patients. The 40 patients voluntarily...

Procedural derm sets sail.(Policy & Practice)
March 1, 2004... PROCEDURAL DERM SETS SAIL File accreditation process for procedural dermatology programs kicks off this month when the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Residency Review Committee for dermatology meets to review applications....

Vanishing Accutane drug reps.(Policy & Practice)
March 1, 2004... VANISHING ACCUTANE DRUG REPS The drugmaker Roche has stopped using its Field sales force to promote its acne drug isotretinoin (Accutane) and its psoriasis drug acitretin (Soriatane). The company has seen substantial drops in sales for...